20 Second Timeout

Hubie Brown Analyzes Russell Westbrook and the L.A. Lakers

The L.A. Lakers, sans LeBron James and Anthony Davis (both of whom elected to sit out), struggled mightily in the first half tonight against a young Charlotte Hornets team that won eight of its previous 11 games, including a record-setting 158-126 rout of the Indiana Pacers. The Lakers trailed by as many as 20 points, and it should surprise no one that ESPN's halftime show--"led" by Screamin' A. Smith--placed a lot of the blame on Russell Westbrook. Make no mistake that Westbrook struggled in the first half: he posted a -27 plus/minus number in the first half, tying the worst half of his illustrious career, and he scored just five points on 1-3 field goal shooting.

Hubie Brown, perhaps the best NBA color commentator of all-time, is 88 years old and he works a limited schedule of ESPN games now, but he is still at or near the top of his game, and he is still providing nuggets of wisdom. While others mindlessly bash Westbrook and blame Westbrook for all of the Lakers' problems, Brown reminded viewers that Westbrook has been a 10+ rpg player when only 10-12 players do that per season, he has been a 10+ apg player when only two to three players do that per season, and he has been an elite scorer as well. Brown said that it is tough watching such a great player struggle--but Brown said that when he watches the Lakers he wonders where is the continuity, where are the shooters/scorers with James and Davis out of the lineup, and what more can Westbrook do other than attack the paint and create open shots: "If you're Russell Westbrook, you're exasperated. You are driving to the hoop, you are creating, and guys are just missing shots in their areas."

In other words, even when Westbrook was clearly not having a good game, Brown resisted the temptation to just pile on and bash Westbrook. Instead, Brown noted that Westbrook has played at a high level for a long time, and that the Lakers' problems run a lot deeper than Westbrook not playing at a high level for one half.

One important thing to remember about Westbrook is that he never quits. He does not cheat the game, the fans, or himself.

During the telecast, Brown also mentioned that what made Michael Jordan (Charlotte's majority owner) great was not only his skills as a shooter and passer, but (1) his relentless effort every game on defense and (2) his "attendance" (other than his second season when he broke his foot, and his second to last season when he was 39 years old, Jordan rarely missed a game). "Attendance" has become a major issue in the NBA for quite some due due to "load management." 

Despite his hard-charging playing style, and despite having multiple knee surgeries, Westbrook rarely misses games; he has played in all 50 games this season. It used to be a badge of honor to play all 82 games, but that spirit has almost disappeared from the NBA with the exception of Westbrook and a few select others.

I know from personal observation that many beat writers like to write their game stories at halftime, particularly during blowouts. I wonder how much those stories had to be rewritten after what happened in the second half?

Westbrook scored 14 points on 5-10 field goal shooting in the third quarter, and the Lakers rallied to tie the score at 84. There is a reason that smart coaches may bench reserve players who are not playing well but tend to give star players more leeway--a star player, even when he hits a rough patch for a quarter or a half, has the necessary talent and mental toughness to erupt at any time. 

The Lakers fell behind in the fourth quarter, but Westbrook scored 11 straight points for the Lakers as they cut the margin to 115-112 after he made back to back three pointers. The Lakers trailed by two (116-114) when Westbrook inbounded the ball with less than 10 seconds remaining. He received the return pass, probed with his dribble, and then went for the win with a three point shot that did not connect. 

It is easy for armchair warriors to say that Westbrook should attack the paint on every play. When it is the final possession, the defender is giving him space, and his teammates have not been shooting well, an uncontested three point shot for the win may be at least as good of an option as a contested paint shot for the tie.   

Brown rightly pointed out that Westbrook had been making the three pointer tonight, and that after the defender backed off Westbrook had an opening to go for the win. "You saw what happened. The man defending him took a step back, and he felt that he was open. You can second guess...but that's why when you are a great player when you make it it's great but when you miss it it's tough, but he is a warrior."

Westbrook scored the most points in a half (30) by a Laker since Kobe Bryant's final game--but Westbrook missed a three pointer on the final possession with the Lakers down by two, and that miss will no doubt be the main thing that many commentators focus on when discussing this game. Westbrook finished with a game-high 35 points on 12-23 field goal shooting, including 3-7 from three point range. He had five assists, four rebounds, and just one turnover. This was his first game as a Laker playing without both James and Davis. Westbrook's second half dominance should quiet the notion that he is a declining player; he is an All-Star caliber player who is trying to figure out how to fit in on a team that has yet to establish its identity, other than that everything revolves around James (when James decides to play) as James chases Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's regular season career scoring record. Westbrook does not complain about his role, nor does he complain about not having enough help. He is a hooper, and he hoops.

Brown declared of Westbrook, "I'm happy for him. He never quit on himself. He keeps playing hard...He knows that he is going to get hit (driving to the hoop) but he punishes himself because he wants to win the game...He took over this game in the third quarter, and you love to see it because that is who he is. You can knock him, you can say you don't like him, but he plays hard and he earns his money every night."

Labels: Charlotte Hornets, Hubie Brown, L.A. Lakers, Russell Westbrook

posted by David Friedman @ 11:22 PM

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